Books in the Mint Editions--Literary Fictio series

Following a pilgrimage to the holy city of Lourdes, Abbé Froment finds himself renewed in his purpose as a man of God and of his most vulnerable people. Inspired to change the Church, he writes a book on socialistic Catholicism and faces punishment from Vatican officials. Rome is the second novel in The Three Cities Trilogy by Émile Zola.

Bracebridge Hall, written by the esteemed author, Washington Irving, is a collection of location-based character sketches, detailing the lives and personalities of the occupants of a countryside manor in Yorkshire, England, owned by a squire. Narrated by an American man who is an old acquaintance of the squire, Bracebridge Hall follows the events leading up to the wedding of the squire's son, Guy, and his bride-to-be, Julia. Beginning with the arrival of the guests, the narrative jumps from character to character to tell their individual stories and relations to the wedding. Alongside the narratives of the wedding guests, a vivid picture of the historic Bracebridge manor is painted with careful attention to detail. The décor and architecture of the home pays homage to a time long before its own, which is even reflected in the people who serve in the estate. Many of the servants were born in the manor and inherited their parents' job and uniform. As the wedding preparations continue, readers are allowed a privileged listen to the servant's gossip, including the story of the rumored love affair between the squire and the eldest, most respected servant. After the gossip and conjecture of the servants completes a portrait of the manor's history, the ceremony proceeds, honoring English tradition and proving to be an idealistic and envious affair of indulgence. With humor and sweetness, Washington Irving explores the personalities and side plots of a diverse group of characters. Including people of all classes, Bracebridge Hall portrays an idealized picture of country life in early 19th century England. The episodic form and intricate prose of Washington Irving creates an enchanting and entertaining reading experience for audiences nearly two centuries later, serving as a testament to Irving's bold and voluptuous characterization of both the setting and characters. This edition of Washington Irving's Bracebridge Hall is redesigned with the contemporary reader in mind. With a new, eye-catching cover design and a stylish font, Bracebridge Hall is both readable and modern.

Iris Henley is a bright young woman that falls in love with an unstable man whose criminal history begins to catch up with them. Despite their obstacles, Iris chooses to stand by and defend her husband. Iris Henley goes against her father's wishes and marries Lord Harry Norland, a member of an Irish secret society. The unlikely pair experience several hardships including a sudden loss of income. As a last resort, Harry engages in insurance fraud hoping to use the funds to support their lifestyle. This leads to a fraud case and eventually a murder investigation. When Iris discovers a conspiracy plot she is forced to reevaluate her marriage. Blind Love is the final work from author Wilkie Collins. Initially left unfinished, it was released a year after his death in 1890. The novel's last act was successfully completed by his colleague Walter Besant who delivers a mesmerizing story of love and desperation. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Blind Love is both modern and readable.

Lourdes (1894) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. Lourdes is the first installment in Zola's celebrated Three Cities Trilogy. Published toward the end of Zola's career, the trilogy is an ambitious, sweeping study of one man's struggle with faith in political, religious, and social life. Following his protagonist Abbé Pierre Froment, Zola provides a striking portrait of the soul of modern man in crisis with itself and with an ever-changing world. Lourdes opens as Abbé Froment departs on a journey from Paris to the holy city of Lourdes. Accompanied by his childhood love, a woman who was paralyzed in an accident at the age of thirteen, Froment hopes to rediscover his faith and to reestablish his position in a beleaguered Catholic Church. There, they meet a series of diverse pilgrims, all of them dissatisfied, all of them searching for something to change or to hold onto. For Froment, this journey begins as a way to help an old friend and becomes a chance at redeeming his wayward soul. At Lourdes, surrounded by desperate, yet faithful people, he begins to remember what brought him to God in the first place. Inspired by his experiences there, he wonders if one priest could change the Church for the better. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Émile Zola's Lourdes is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Primrose Path (1875) is the debut novel of Irish author Bram Stoker. Written over two decades before Dracula, his masterpiece, The Primrose Path helped to establish the Irish master of Gothic horror's reputation as a leading writer of the early-twentieth century. Inspired by the temperance movement, Stoker crafts a simple narrative about a man brought low through temptation and a lack of opportunity. Originally serialized in The Shamrock, a weekly magazine published in Ireland, The Primrose Path is a largely unrecognized novel that deserves reassessment by readers and academics alike. Jerry O'Sullivan is a good man who wants noting more to provide for his young wife in order to start a family. Looking for work as a theatrical carpenter, he moves from his native Dublin to the sprawling city of London, where he soon finds work and hopes to settle down. After a series of accidents, however, he grows distant from his wife Katey and falls victim to the temptations of alcohol. As he begins to lose control, he grows jealous, loses his job, and begins to harbor dangerous fantasies. Soon, despite his moral upbringing, he risks committing an act too heinous to imagine. The Primrose Path is a gripping work of horror and naturalism by Bram Stoker, the secretive and vastly underrated creator of Dracula, one of history's greatest villains. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Bram Stoker's The Primrose Path is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

George Amberson Minafer is a terrible brat. Believing that his family name and fortune entitles him to a lifetime of prestige, he is oblivious to the lives of others and the changing ways of the world. Considered to be Booth Tarkington's best novel, The Magnificent Ambersons is a harrowing look at a family in decline in the wake of the Industrial Age.